Who was Montesquieu, and why did he advocate separating and balancing the powers of government?

Montesquieu was a French lawyer, man of letters, and political philosopher who lived during the Age of Enlightenment. He advocated separating and balancing the powers of government so that the powers of one branch were not in conflict with the powers associated with the other branches.

Montesquieu was a French lawyer, man of letters, and political philosopher who lived during the Age of Enlightenment. He advocated separating and balancing the powers of government so that the powers of one branch were not in conflict with the powers associated with the other branches.